Etches said the city sends regular reports to the province about the number of people using the services, but she also wants the minister to hear more than just the numbers.

"It tells part of the story. I think what I tried to convey is that data is one thing, the actual experience of our nurses in the centres is another."

In her letter, she encouraged Elliott to make sure front-line staff were heard during the review.

Ottawa Public Health operates a supervised injection site in the ByWard Market with provincial funding, one of four sites in the city. (Trevor Pritchard/CBC)

Review 'in short order'

Elliott's press secretary told CBC in an email the review will be done "in short order."

"Our government is committed to get people struggling with addiction the help they need," she said, pointing to $1.9 billion committed to mental health over 10 years by Ford during the election campaign.

"[Elliott] is actively involved in this process, has toured multiple sites and heard from people with lived experience along with experts, health care workers, community leaders, community members, police services, business owners and other stakeholders."